Friday, May 30, 2014

I never thought I would hear Shannen Doherty say “Lamprey.”
As we watched the fictional show “Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys”
from Animal Planet with my young daughters they asked, “What are those?!?” I
replied, “That’s what we ate last Saturday at the namegiving ceremony.” They
recalled the foods and as I saw the realization that food on the table may look
different in nature, I got a flashback of my childhood. Eating and seeing this
food on the ceremonial table and the words family would share about our brother
asúm (the Yakama word used to describe eel-like lamprey). Our relatives talked
about the Treaty discussions and our hunting, fishing, and gathering rights.
They told us children to listen because one day we will have to speak for the resource,
that cannot speak for themselves.

May Memories

My mind flashes to last May, when we went to eeling, which
is what we call fishing for asúm (lamprey) at Willamette Falls in Oregon City,
OR.

We got a message warning that the
State of Oregon might give us tickets us for not fishing within a state season.
This shocked me, not only because Yakamas set their own fishing seasons, but
also because “Willamette” comes from a Yakama word originally pronounced “Wa’lúmt.”
This describes the color of the water. There are other Yakama words in the area
such as “Wapato Lake,” which describes a wild wetland potato and is
traditionally spelled wáptu. Yakamas connection to this land lives through the
language.

Continuing on

We are reassured by
our connection to the area and our elders’ teachings that “Sovereignty is a
living thing. It is your choice to practice those rights, but fail to practice
them long enough and they will die.” We went to Willamette Falls, got the asúm and
took to the families for ceremonies. We also took some asúm (lamprey) to our
elders. The meal that accompanies ceremonies is important because it is one way
the family expresses a sense of gratitude for each person being in attendance.

One of the ceremonies was completed
that week; another ceremony would take place in August. Just prior to that
August ceremony, while we were headed back from gathering huckleberries, we got
a flat tire in Oregon. My uncle and Oregon State Patrol helped me change the
tire. As we made room to get the tire out of the car, I carefully moved the
baskets of berries and explained to the officer that these were for an upcoming
family ceremony and then thanked him for helping me get this food home.

How is it that we can have the Oregon State Patrol used as a
threat against our people getting lamprey and yet so helpful to our people
gathering huckleberries for the exact same ceremony?

Perhaps it is the Creator’s way of reminding us to let
people know a little about what is taking place today. If they understand just
a little more of our rights than perhaps they will help us speak for the resource.

Why take it all so seriously?

You see, while I was not given a fishing citation last May,
I was scared. In 2011, Yakama fishers and Warm Springs Fishers were given
fishing citations for getting asúm (lamprey). The Oregon State Patrol took away
all the asúm (lamprey) and let them spoil on the hot asphalt. These fish were
meant for ceremonies and subsistence, yet they were wasted in front of our
people’s eyes.

Upcoming events to commemorate the Treaty of 1855

On Monday, Warm Springs and Yakama
Nation will meet along the Willamette River to discuss this incident and our
rights at Willamette Falls. This will include Tribal Councilmembers, elders,
fishers and youth.

On Friday, June 6,
2014, at 10am the Yakama Nation will have the Annual Treaty Day Parade and
salmon bake at the Cultural Center in Toppenish, Washington. This year’s theme
is “Iwitux’sha útni pamimun tiicham támanwit” (Celebrating Tradition Lost and
Returning).

I think of this theme, this experience and the show. As we
watched “Blood Lake” I had to explain to my three and four year-old
daughters that “Blood Lake” is pretend and confirm the words they heard from
our elder Russell Jim at the ceremony about our asúm are true. Maybe you know
a little about the Treaty of 1855, Willamette, and asúm (lamprey) or perhaps you
know a lot. Either way, the upcoming
events are a good place to continue to learn and share the knowledge regarding
our rights in Willamette and our other usual and accustomed areas. It’s been decades
since the late David Sohappy, Sr. asked, “How can it be illegal for Indians to
do what they’ve done all their life?” This question still ripples through our
historic rivers and veins.

1 comment:

Emily, Thanks for this really moving and thought-provoking entry. I would love to learn more about how museums and other cultural institutions can work to make this story accessible to children and young people. What kinds of role playing exercises, games, and reflection activities could help our visitors grasp the sacred and environmental importance of lamprey, and help them reflect on treaty rights and food sovereignty issues? Perhaps songs and music would be especially effective, to help children appreciate the core concepts and learn some important phrases in Sahaptin? Are there art making activities we could organize, in which children and teens could make art works illustrating the importance of lamprey/asum and the challenges indigenous peoples face in securing their treaty rights? Perhaps our students at Central (for instance in the Exhibiting Nature course in Fall 2014, or the Learning in Museums course in Winter 2015) could assist in developing lesson plans and traveling trunks, to share this story with wider audiences.